Cumbria County Council has revealed that it is "broadly supportive" of the Moorside power station - but has urged nuclear chiefs to guarantee parallel investment.

The council's cabinet has today agreed its formal response to the second round of consultation to NuGen's plans for a three-reactor plant on land next to Sellafield.

Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria County Council, said: "Whilst we are broadly supportive, this project will require significant additional investment to secure the right infrastructure to support the construction of Moorside and its three new nuclear reactors.

"The sheer scale of this nuclear project is unprecedented for Cumbria and in fact unprecedented for the UK. To ensure that everyone benefits we need a guarantee from Government or NuGen, or both of extensive additional investment into services like the county’s infrastructure (roads, railways and ports), accommodation for the workforce, and the development of skills to ensure that as many jobs as possible are taken by Cumbrians.

"Following submission of our formal response we will then be looking to NuGen, and the Government, to ensure that robust plans are put in place to guarantee that this development results in a clear and lasting legacy for Cumbria – plans that will see Cumbrian communities benefit from this nuclear new build for many generations to come.”

NuGen is currently consulting with the public and local councils over its plans that include the plant itself plus associated transport and accommodation projects. NuGen hopes to get the final go ahead in 2018. Construction is due to start in 2020 and all three reactors on stream by 2026.